Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Lady Raiders Basketball 2005-2006
The Melrose Lady Raiders completed tryouts at the Roosevelt Elementary School for the upcoming season. Coach Dave Brady selected a team which he hopes can improve on their 23-1 2004-2005 campaign that culminated as Division II North runnerup.
During the past three seasons, the Lady Raiders are 52-2 in Middlesex League action, and 67-5 overall including post-season play. The Lady Raiders will have a special challenge this season as they play most of their home games at Stoneham High School while the Melrose Middle School and high school gymnasium are under construction.
The Lady Raiders will seek their seventh consecutive Middlesex League title with stiff competition expected from Lexington, Belmont, Wakefield, Reading, and Stoneham with the addition of Coach Karen Grutchfield who had coached Wakefield to a state championship in the past.
Guards:
PG - JR Sheylani Peddy, Middlesex League MVP
SG - SR Cara Lynch
SG - JR Lynley DeAmato
PG - JR Taylor Pearson
PG - JR Lauren Murray
SG - SR Samantha Bell
SG - SO Meghan Kirwan
Forwards
SF - SR Paula Sen
PF - SR Karen Sen
PF - SR Maura Coveney
PF - SO Emily Clark
SF - SR Ana Tocco
SF - JR Krista Limone
SF - JR Sharon Porcaro
Family Ties. Three players are the younger sisters of former Lady Raiders, Sharon Porcaro whose sister Amy played on the 24-1 2002-3 team as did Taylor's sister Jamie Pearson, and Meghan Kirwan, whose sister Shannon was 2003 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year and has played three seasons for the Bentley Lady Falcons. Kirwan is averaging 11 points and 4 assists through nine games this season.
Middlesex League Preview. Middlesex League coaches selected Lexington as the preseason favorite to break Melrose's hold on the ML title. Reading, always tough and physical lost All-Scholastic Justine Lyons (leading scorer Saint Anselm College) and Ellen Naughton to graduation but comes to reload, not rebuild. Woburn lost prodigious scorer All-Scholastic Valerie Beckwith to Bates College but returns Kate Dwyer. Belmont returns All-Scholastic Lauren Yanovsky who rumor has it is headed to Bates to join Beckwith. Point guard Iseult Conlin graduated and is playing at New York University. Wakefield always brings speed and defensive intensity, led by point guard Lauren Mcmillan. Stoneham, led by Coach Grutchfield, has Amber Wantman at point guard and Ashley Corbett at center. The MassLive Girls Basketball forum reported that Corbett sprained her ankle at the Babson tournament. Winchester and Watertown had young squads in 2004 and look to improve this year.
Alumni action. In addition to Shannon Kirwan at Bentley and former teammate Quiana Copeland sees action at Northeastern. Please let us know if other alumni are playing.
Team Notes. Five Lady Raiders played for Melrose's soccer team which reached the MIAA playoffs and won its first playoff game. They include Cara Lynch, Ana Tocco, Sam Bell, Maura Coveney, and Lauren Murray. Senior Meg Shea elected not to play this season to pursue her primary sport in field hockey. Three Lady Raiders (24-1) played in the Division II State Championship volleyball game, Karen and Paula Sen, and Taylor Pearson.
Sheylani Peddy starred in the Gym Rat Challenge. "Sheylani Peddy (5-8 PG/SG, Boston Sharks): Produced double-digit scoring totals in all five games, leading the Sharks each time with efforts of 16, 12, 18, 19 and 22 points. Peddy thrives when the game is uptempo and attacks the basket with ferocity. A relentless competitor, Peddy has legitimate three-point range."
Upcoming action. Melrose will scrimmage perennial Division I power Lowell this Sunday.
During the past three seasons, the Lady Raiders are 52-2 in Middlesex League action, and 67-5 overall including post-season play. The Lady Raiders will have a special challenge this season as they play most of their home games at Stoneham High School while the Melrose Middle School and high school gymnasium are under construction.
The Lady Raiders will seek their seventh consecutive Middlesex League title with stiff competition expected from Lexington, Belmont, Wakefield, Reading, and Stoneham with the addition of Coach Karen Grutchfield who had coached Wakefield to a state championship in the past.
Guards:
PG - JR Sheylani Peddy, Middlesex League MVP
SG - SR Cara Lynch
SG - JR Lynley DeAmato
PG - JR Taylor Pearson
PG - JR Lauren Murray
SG - SR Samantha Bell
SG - SO Meghan Kirwan
Forwards
SF - SR Paula Sen
PF - SR Karen Sen
PF - SR Maura Coveney
PF - SO Emily Clark
SF - SR Ana Tocco
SF - JR Krista Limone
SF - JR Sharon Porcaro
Family Ties. Three players are the younger sisters of former Lady Raiders, Sharon Porcaro whose sister Amy played on the 24-1 2002-3 team as did Taylor's sister Jamie Pearson, and Meghan Kirwan, whose sister Shannon was 2003 Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year and has played three seasons for the Bentley Lady Falcons. Kirwan is averaging 11 points and 4 assists through nine games this season.
Middlesex League Preview. Middlesex League coaches selected Lexington as the preseason favorite to break Melrose's hold on the ML title. Reading, always tough and physical lost All-Scholastic Justine Lyons (leading scorer Saint Anselm College) and Ellen Naughton to graduation but comes to reload, not rebuild. Woburn lost prodigious scorer All-Scholastic Valerie Beckwith to Bates College but returns Kate Dwyer. Belmont returns All-Scholastic Lauren Yanovsky who rumor has it is headed to Bates to join Beckwith. Point guard Iseult Conlin graduated and is playing at New York University. Wakefield always brings speed and defensive intensity, led by point guard Lauren Mcmillan. Stoneham, led by Coach Grutchfield, has Amber Wantman at point guard and Ashley Corbett at center. The MassLive Girls Basketball forum reported that Corbett sprained her ankle at the Babson tournament. Winchester and Watertown had young squads in 2004 and look to improve this year.
Alumni action. In addition to Shannon Kirwan at Bentley and former teammate Quiana Copeland sees action at Northeastern. Please let us know if other alumni are playing.
Team Notes. Five Lady Raiders played for Melrose's soccer team which reached the MIAA playoffs and won its first playoff game. They include Cara Lynch, Ana Tocco, Sam Bell, Maura Coveney, and Lauren Murray. Senior Meg Shea elected not to play this season to pursue her primary sport in field hockey. Three Lady Raiders (24-1) played in the Division II State Championship volleyball game, Karen and Paula Sen, and Taylor Pearson.
Sheylani Peddy starred in the Gym Rat Challenge. "Sheylani Peddy (5-8 PG/SG, Boston Sharks): Produced double-digit scoring totals in all five games, leading the Sharks each time with efforts of 16, 12, 18, 19 and 22 points. Peddy thrives when the game is uptempo and attacks the basket with ferocity. A relentless competitor, Peddy has legitimate three-point range."
Upcoming action. Melrose will scrimmage perennial Division I power Lowell this Sunday.
